Wire Reel Assembly

ABSTRACT

A wire reel assembly includes: a reel including a barrel having opposite first and second axial ends, and a first flange extending radially and outwardly from the first axial end of the barrel, the barrel being formed with at least one slot unit extending axially between the first and second axial ends; and a reel extension including an extension flange parallel to the first flange, and at least one inserting unit extending axially from the extension flange into the slot unit and slidable axially relative to the reel between first and second axial positions such that an axial distance between the extension flange and the first flange is increased when the inserting unit is moved from the first axial position to the second axial position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a wire reel assembly, more particularly to a wire reel assembly including a reel and a reel extension connected movably to the reel.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,333 discloses a conventional wire reel that is formed with a pair of identical reel members made of plastic material, which are detachably connected to each other. Each reel member is provided with a series of circumferentially spaced barrel sections having tongues that engage a selected one of two sets of slots on the opposite reel member. The two sets of slots have different levels so as to permit length adjustment between flanges of the reel members. Since the barrel sections are required to be relatively thick for forming the slots, the amount of the material required for making the reel members is relatively large, which results in an increase in the production cost and the weight of the wire reel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a wire reel assembly that can overcome the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art.

According to the present invention, the wire reel assembly comprises: a reel including a barrel having opposite first and second axial ends, and a first flange extending radially and outwardly from the first axial end of the barrel, the barrel being formed with at least one slot unit extending axially between the first and second axial ends; and a reel extension including an extension flange parallel to the first flange, and at least one inserting unit extending axially from the extension flange into the slot unit and slidable axially relative to the reel between first and second axial positions such that an axial distance between the extension flange and the first flange is increased when the inserting unit is moved from the first axial position to the second axial position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a wire reel assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded partly sectional view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view illustrating the structures of a slot unit and an inserting unit of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary assembled partly sectional view illustrating a state where the inserting unit of the preferred embodiment is disposed at a first axial position;

FIG. 5 is an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment in a state similar to that of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary assembled partly sectional view illustrating another state where the inserting unit of the preferred embodiment is disposed at a second axial position; and

FIG. 7 is an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment in a state similar to that of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment of a wire reel assembly according to the present invention is shown to include: a reel 1 including a barrel 11 having opposite first and second axial ends 111, 112, and a first flange 12 extending radially and outwardly from the first axial end 111 of the barrel 11, the barrel 11 being formed with at least one slot unit 10 extending axially between the first and second axial ends 111, 112; and a reel extension 3 including an extension flange 31 parallel to the first flange 12, and at least one inserting unit 32 extending axially from the flange 31 into the slot unit 10 and slidable axially relative to the reel 1 between first and second axial positions (see FIGS. 4 and 6) such that an axial distance between the extension flange 31 and the first flange 12 is increased when the inserting unit 32 is moved from the first axial position to the second axial position. In this embodiment, there are two inserting units 32 and two slot units 10.

The wire reel assembly further includes a retaining unit for holding a respective inserting unit 32 and a respective slot unit 10 together. The retaining unit includes first and second interlocking members 108, 34 respectively provided on the slot unit 10 and the inserting unit 32, engaging releasably each other when the inserting unit 32 is disposed at the first axial position (see FIGS. 4 and 5), and disengaging each other when the inserting unit 32 is disposed at the second axial position. Each of the retaining units further includes third and fourth interlocking members 141, 35 respectively provided on the slot unit 10 and the inserting unit 32, engaging releasably each other when the inserting unit 32 is disposed at the second axial position (see FIGS. 6 and 7), and disengaging each other when the inserting unit 32 is disposed at the first axial position.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the slot units 10 is defined by a slot-defining wall that has inner and outer wall portions 103, 102 which are centered at an axis of the barrel 11 and which are radially spaced apart to define a slot 104 therebetween. The inner wall portion 103 is formed with at least one first retaining groove 108′ that defines the first interlocking member 108. In this embodiment, there are two first retaining grooves 108′. Each of the inserting units 32 includes an inserting plate 321 extending into the slot 104 of the respective slot unit 10 and formed with a pair of first resilient tongues 34′ that define the second interlocking member 34 and that respectively engage the first retaining grooves 108′ when the inserting unit 32 is disposed at the first axial position. Each of the first resilient tongues 341 has an inner inclined guiding face 342 for smoothing disengagement from the corresponding first retaining groove 108′ when the first resilient tongue 34′ passes over a groove-defining wall of the corresponding first retaining groove 108′. The inserting plate 321 is further formed with a pair of slits 325 that cooperatively define the first resilient tongue 34′.

Referring further to FIGS. 1 and 3, the inner wall portion 103 of the slot-defining wall of each of the slot units 10 has two opposing arcuate segments 106 that are spaced apart from each other and that cooperatively define a receiving space 105 in spatial communication with the slot 104. The barrel 11 has an inner wall 113 that defines an inner space 110 in spatial communication with the receiving space 105 between the arcuate segments 106, and is formed with an inner flange 141′ extending radially and inwardly from the inner wall 111 and defining the third interlocking member 141.

Each of the inserting units 32 further includes a cylindrical wall 324 that extends from the inserting plate 321 into the receiving space 105 between the arcuate segments 106 and that is formed with a second resilient tongue 35′ which defines the fourth interlocking member 35, which is axially spaced apart from the inner flange 141′ when the inserting unit 32 is disposed at the first axial position, and which abuts against the inner flange 141′ when the inserting unit 32 is disposed at the second axial position. The cylindrical wall 324 is further formed with a pair of slits 327 that cooperatively define the second resilient tongue 35′. The inner flange 141′ is formed with a notch 143 (see FIG. 2) defined by a notch-defining wall. The second resilient tongue 35′ has an inclined guiding face 351 for permitting the second resilient tongue 35′ to pass over the notch-defining wall of the notch 143 of the inner flange 141′ during assembly of each inserting unit 32 and the respective slot unit 10.

In this embodiment, the reel 1 further includes a second flange 13 that extends radially and outwardly from the second axial end 112 of the barrel 11 and that has two flange halves 131 which are diametrically disposed and which cooperatively define two sector-shaped spaces 133 therebetween. The extension flange 31 has two flange halves 312 that are respectively received in the sector-shaped spaces 133 when the inserting unit 32 is disposed at the first axial position.

In this embodiment, the reel extension 3 further includes a handle 33 mounted to one of the flange halves 312. The wire reel assembly further includes a holding unit 2 mounted rotatably to the reel 1. The holding unit 2 includes a pair of lever holders 21, 22 mounted rotatably and respectively on the first and second axial ends 111, 112 of the barrel 11 and secured to each other through fastening means 23.

With the inclusion of the reel extension 3 in the wire reel assembly of this invention, the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art can be eliminated.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A wire reel assembly comprising: a reel including a barrel having opposite first and second axial ends, and a first flange extending radially and outwardly from said first axial end of said barrel, said barrel being formed with at least one slot unit extending axially between said first and second axial ends; and a reel extension including an extension flange parallel to said first flange, and at least one inserting unit extending axially from said extension flange into said slot unit and slidable axially relative to said reel between first and second axial positions such that an axial distance between said extension flange and said first flange is increased when said inserting unit is moved from the first axial position to the second axial position.
 2. The wire reel assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one retaining unit that includes first and second interlocking members respectively provided on said slot unit and said inserting unit, engaging releasably each other when said inserting unit is disposed at the first axial position, and disengaging each other when said inserting unit is disposed at the second axial position, said retaining unit further including third and fourth interlocking members respectively provided on said slot unit and said inserting unit, engaging releasably each other when said inserting unit is disposed at the second axial position, and disengaging each other when said inserting unit is disposed at the first axial position.
 3. The wire reel assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said slot unit is defined by a slot-defining wall that has inner and outer wall portions which are centered at an axis of said barrel and which are radially spaced apart to define a slot therebetween, said inner wall portion being formed with at least one first retaining groove which defines said first interlocking member, said inserting unit including an inserting plate extending into said slot and formed with a first resilient tongue that defines said second interlocking member and that engages said first retaining groove when said inserting unit is disposed at the first axial position.
 4. The wire reel assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said inner wall portion of said slot-defining wall has two opposing arcuate segments that are spaced apart from each other and that cooperatively define a receiving space in spatial communication with said slot, said barrel having an inner wall that defines an inner space in spatial communication with said receiving space between said arcuate segments, and being formed with an inner flange that extends radially and inwardly from said inner wall and that defines said third interlocking member, said inserting unit further including a cylindrical wall that extends from said inserting plate into said receiving space between said arcuate segments and that is formed with a second resilient tongue which defines said fourth interlocking member, which is axially spaced apart from said inner flange when said inserting unit is disposed at the first axial position, and which abuts against said inner flange when said inserting unit is disposed at the second axial position.
 5. The wire reel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reel further includes a second flange that extends radially and outwardly from said second axial end of said barrel and that has two flange halves which are diametrically disposed and which cooperatively define two sector-shaped spaces therebetween, said extension flange having two flange halves that are respectively received in said sector-shaped spaces when said inserting unit is disposed at the first axial position. 